A lot has been made about the selection of Tim Lincecum as an All-Star this season. Let's look at his stats against a couple of the snubs, and you try to guess which is which:
A) 6-2, 3.30, 111 K
B) 6-7, 3.14, 126 K
C) 10-2, 2.54, 103 K
If you are paying attention to ESPN, you'll know that A is Anibal Sanchez, B is Timmy, and C is Tommy Hanson. So what do you think? Was Bochy just in selecting Timmy? At We're in this thing, we sure think so.
Frankie: There are pitchers with better stats than him that didn't make it. That is fact. His manager is managing the team. That is fact. But that doesn't take away the fact that his season has been very good, and that he is Tim Lincecum.
Think about how position player starters are elected to this game. The fans vote. That's how you get Jeter as your starting shortstop. If pitchers were voted on by the fans too, Tim would be a top 5 vote getter. He's one of the 5 most popular players in the game right now and not just in SF. He is, according to Sports Illustrated, the most "compelling" player in baseball. He is a "star".
The only reason people are complaining is because Bochy selected him. But if it had been left up to a fan vote, we would have the same result. People want to see Tim Lincecum. People like his hair. People like that he defies logic. People like that he smokes pot.
Eric: If indeed there are players who have been having better seasons and the ASG has the World Series home field advantage riding on it, doesn't the manager have a responsibility to his league to select those who are indeed the greatest players of this half season in order to give him the best chance of winning?
Frankie: Bochy doesn't have a responsibility to his league. He has a responsibility to himself, to his own team. He's managing as though he's going to be in the WS, and that home field advantage will serve his team. So when it comes to using Tim Lincecum in the 5th inning of a 1-0 game or Anibal Sanchez, who is Bochy as a manager going to trust to win his team home field in the World Series? His Ace, who won him a championship, or a good starter from the Marlins? Bochy is going to trust his own guys. And when it comes down to it, I don't think he has a responsibility to anyone but the Giants. Because at the end of the day, if the Giants aren't in the WS, what does it even matter? League pride is a thing of the past. Bochy is managing this game to win so that the Giants can benefit, not the National League.
The selection process.... yes, it's stupid. Jeter shouldn't be starting, Lincecum's numbers aren't incredible. But that's how it is every year. And every year we'll have fans from 28 teams whining just like Bochy did when Manuel snubbed Pablo. Now [Pirates' Manager] Clint Hurdle is whining about Andrew McCutcheon. And next year, when Hurdle manages the All-Star team, Bochy will whine about Hurdle snubbing Jose Reyes.
Eric: Absolutely agreed. I love you.
No comments:
Post a Comment